Jammu, December 2, 2025: A Jammu and Kashmir man, Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, who was arrested on Monday for alleged involvement in the high-profile 1989 kidnapping of then-Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s daughter, has been released just a day after his arrest. The Special Court for CBI/TADA cases refused the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea for his custody.

The court’s detailed reasoning behind denying the CBI’s request was not immediately available, but the order effectively allowed Shangloo to walk free without being remanded. Speaking to reporters after his release, Shangloo maintained his innocence, saying, “I had no involvement in it. The court has given me justice today.” His lawyer, Sohail Dar, stated that with the court’s decision, “there shall be no investigation against him anymore.”

Background of the Case

Shangloo had been accused of being part of a conspiracy hatched by members of the now-banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Reports indicated that he was a close associate of JKLF chief Yasin Malik, who is currently serving a jail term in Delhi in a terror-funding case. At the time of his arrest, Shangloo reportedly carried a reward of ₹10 lakh for information leading to his capture.

The abduction of Rubaiyya Sayeed, Mufti Sayeed’s daughter, occurred on December 8, 1989, near Lal Ded Hospital in Srinagar. She was held captive for five days before being released following the intervention of the then VP Singh government, which released five jailed militants in exchange for her freedom. The case has long been a landmark in Jammu and Kashmir’s history of militancy and counter-terrorism.

After taking over the investigation in 1990, the CBI had listed Rubaiyya Sayeed as a prosecution witness. During the investigation, she identified Yasin Malik and four other accused as being involved in the kidnapping. Malik, who was arrested in 2019 for a 2017 terror-funding case, was sentenced in May 2024. In the kidnap case, a special TADA courthas already framed charges against Malik and nine others, while Shangloo had reportedly been absconding until his recent arrest.

Arrest and Immediate Release

Shangloo was taken into custody from his residence in the Nishat area of Srinagar on December 1 by the CBI in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police. Following his arrest, the central agency had asserted that he conspired with Malik and others in carrying out the alleged offences and had also handled JKLF finances as an office-bearer.

However, the court on Tuesday did not agree with the CBI’s plea to remand Shangloo to custody. While the exact rationale of the Special Court, presided over by Madan Lal, Third Additional District and Sessions Judge of the TADA Court, is awaited, the release effectively clears Shangloo of immediate suspicion in the case after decades.

Aftermath and Reactions

The 1989 Rubaiyya Sayeed kidnapping remains one of the most sensitive and high-profile incidents in Jammu and Kashmir’s modern history. The case had immense political and social implications at the time, not only impacting the Sayeed family but also shaping the government’s approach toward militancy and insurgency in the region.

Rubaiyya Sayeed, now living in Tamil Nadu, continues to be listed as a prosecution witness. Her sister, Mehbooba Mufti, later went on to serve as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, carrying forward the political legacy of her father.

The CBI has yet to comment on whether it will appeal the court’s refusal to grant custody or pursue further legal steps regarding Shangloo. Legal observers note that the case demonstrates the challenges of investigating decades-old crimes, particularly in conflict-affected regions where key witnesses and accused are dispersed or unavailable for long periods.